Maximizing Aquaculture Productivity with Sequential Polyculture Systems

Maximizing Aquaculture Productivity with Sequential Polyculture Systems

Summary

The project jumped to a good start. My children, relatives and I have made this a family project and hand-cleared the area around the pig pen ourselves. The hog pen, with the guidance and employment of an independent contractor, has been completed with the pipes left to be installed.

Delay was caused due to the unavailability of a pool on the island. Our technical advisor, Mike Ogo, from NMC CREES, helped us acquire one from the neighboring island of Guam just recently.

Due to a couple of storms and heavy rains, we have been on stand-by, only being able to clear more coconut trees and shrubs where the pool will be situated.

We have purchased a large canopy to work under so that the rain will not get in the way, so we can now resume the project and get it ready for loading.

Our target date for loading the shrimp and fish is the end of February 2010.

We are excited to move on to the final phases of the project and look forward to sharing our journey with others who are interested in the field and the students of the Marianas.

Objectives/Performance Targets

* To demonstrate the viability of producing two crops of aquaculture commodity using the same water in separate tanks in what is called sequential polyculture system.

* To demonstrate how this system not only allows the producer to grow two crops but also improves water quality with the secondary crop (finfish).

* To generate additional revenue streams for the producer.

* Promote Sustainable Agriculture practices with planned field and media days and proposed workshops.

Accomplishments/Milestones

With regards to this project, the following have been accomplished:

* Prepared the site.

* Converted what was a swine pen into shrimp production tanks by closing up openings, installing drainages and plastering the inside walls to prevent leakages in the tanks.

* Constructed a concrete slab and then erected a 15′ circular swimming pool, which serves as a settling filter tank and also a culture tank for finfish. The fish will utilize uneaten feed from the shrimp tank and algae growing as a result of the nutrients in the water.

* Installed aeration system to provide dissolved oxygen to shrimp and fish.

* Installed filtration and water circulation system to recycle water so that water is not discharged into the environment.

* Stocked shrimp tank with 3,000 shrimp post larvae.

* Field day rescheduled to February 2011

*Harvest & Data Collection, April 2011

* Media Day May 2011

* Conduct seminars on July 2011 in Saipan, Tinian and Rota. Printed materials will be distributed at these workshops.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Collaborators: